Oklahoma Healthcare Authority Announces $12 Million in Cuts to Providers

By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Health care for some of Oklahoma's most vulnerable residents is hanging by a thread. The agency overseeing SoonerCare says it has to cut millions of dollars from the program.

The cuts could force some doctors to start turning away patients. This is the same problem facing all state agencies; budget cuts. But this time, it could leave children and those with disabilities with nowhere to get medical care.

Dr. Mukesh Parekh is an Obstetrician gynecologist and three quarters of his patients are on Medicaid.

"I've had my own practice for 28 years and I love every bit of it," Parekh said.

But soon he'll be getting less money for his services.

"Chances are I might have to quit taking SoonerCare of new ones or quit SoonerCare completely or find some other alternative close to practice and work for somebody," Parekh said.

SoonerCare is the state's Medicaid program administered by the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority. Like all state agencies they were ordered to trim the budget.

"It's not something we brought upon ourselves, but it's something we have to deal with," Nico Gomez with the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority said.

The state gets federal matching dollars for Medicaid so that $10 million in cuts will also cost the state an additional $30 million in federal dollars.

"Any type of reduction is a concern and we're asking our provider partners to stick with us through these though times," Gomez said.